Lifford Strabane AC’s Brendan O’Donnell broke the Donegal hammer record at a meet in Bangor on Tuesday night.
The 18-year-old, who is in his second year of senior competition, reached out to 58.71 metres at the North Down Open Athletics Meet.
O’Donnell’s second round throw beat the previous best of 56.09m.
O’Donnell, who is still a junior by virtue of his age, actually surpassed the 60 metre mark with his final throw which was measured at 60.10m but it didn’t register, as the hammer landed just outside the left hand sector line.
The Lifford Strabane AC man now turns his attention to the National Senior Track and Field Championships which take place in Santry Stadium, Dublin this weekend.
There were a number of standout performances from Lifford Strabane AC athletes at the meet.
Adrienne Gallen was another to shine on what was the perfect evening for hammer throwing.
Gallen produced a third round effort of 46.69m with the 3kg implement, registering the third furthest throw by an u15 girl in either Ireland or Britain this year.
A remarkable fact is that Gallen, who is the current Irish Schools Junior Girls champion when throwing 50.89m (2.5kg) back in June, is in fact underage at this level again in 2019.
Adrienne Gallen
Clubmate Aine Marie McBride was not to be overawed by Gallen and produced her own special moment when throwing 42.30m in the same u15 Girls Hammer, significant in that this mark is the 8th furthest throw by an u15 girl in these islands this year.
McBride missed out on competing in national championships over the past few weekends but on this form, will look forward to the 2019 season with great confidence.
Jude McCrossan produced a season’s best in the Boys u17 Hammer when throwing the 4kg implement 48.48m.
McCrossan is the reigning Irish Schools Junior Boys Hammer champion and has had an exceptional season, only recently winning the All Ireland u16 Hammer title in Tullamore.
There were fine performances in the Javelin too. Lifford Strabane ACs Ellis McCurdy recently won the All Ireland u14 Javelin title and summoned the energy to land a highly impressive 33.87m mark in Bangor, while clubmate, Hannah Whyte also impressed when throwing 27.08m in the same event.
In the Shot, Adrienne Gallen got out to 10.49m (3kg) while Harriet McCrossan showed a clean pair of heels to all athletes when winning the 100m in 12.13 seconds and the 400m in 63.42 seconds.
Wilson Craig had a strong run in the 3000m while Michael McCurdy had his first competitive outing in both 100m and 400m. Caoimhe Gallen too will be happy with her performances in both Javelin and Shot Putt.
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